Archive Council News

This page is a news release published by Wrexham County Borough Council.
Content Author: pressoffice@wrexham.gov.uk

22 July 2010

Children’s University Gold Awards 2010

Children and young people from across Wrexham donned their cap and gowns to have their achievements celebrated at a special awards ceremony.

The Children and Young People’s University Gold Award Ceremony were held at the Nick Whitehead Theatre at Glyndwr University.

The Children’s University is a partnership between Wrexham Youth Service (Wrexham County Borough Council) and Glyndwr University. The scheme gives ‘credits’ for each hour that children voluntarily participate in activities ‘out of normal school hours’. Credits are awarded for each hour completed and these credits are banked and build up to further awards such as Bronze Silver and Gold.

Wrexham Children’s university was the first of its kind in Wales and is being used as a best practice model across the whole of Wales. There are currently 19 other local authorities across Wales who have now adopted the scheme and affiliate to the Children and Young People’s University Cymru.

All students at the ceremony received the highest award available within the Children and Young People’s University – The GOLD Award.

Children from Acton Park Community Primary School, Darland High School, Rhosymedre Community Primary School, St’ Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School, St. Peter’s Primary School, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Victoria Junior School and The Maelor School along with children and young people from the Bitesize Theatre Group have completed modules in a range of activities. These included; sports, reading, drama, dance, music and many more. This impressive accomplishment shows a high degree of commitment and dedication by the students and should be rightly celebrated at an awards ceremony reflecting the student’s efforts and achievements.

Certificates were presented by Mayor, Councillor Jim Kelly, KSG, also in attendance were, Donna Dickenson (Interim Chief Officer, Prevention and Inclusion, Wrexham County Borough Council), Lesley Griffiths AM for Wrexham, Merfyn Lloyd Jones (National Development Officer, Children and Young People’s University Cymru) and Christine Willis (Wrexham, Children’s University Development Officer). Other guests included Head teachers and teachers from various participating schools and representatives from participating organisations.

Performances were given by children and young people from Acton Park Primary, St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and The John Lynn’s Black Belt Academy.

By July 2010, the number of Wrexham school children between the ages of 5 - 19 who are engaged in activities is 9,138. Of the Wrexham schools, 46 are currently registered as ‘activity centres’ and all schools have pupils registered with the scheme. There are approximately 40 external organisations involved, these include Country Parks, Youth Centres, Youth Theatres and music groups, Wrexham Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Sports Development and local sports groups and Community First initiatives. 2,284 modules have been submitted totalling 354,568 credits/hours.

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